REYNAUD’S APPEAL

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 15 June 1940, Page 7

REYNAUD’S APPEAL

REPLY BY ROOSEVELT EVERYTHING POSSIBLE BEING DONE | U.P.A. - By Electric Telegraph—Copyright] WASHINGTON, 13th June. President Roosevelt, replying to M. Reynaud, said the United States of America was doing everything possible to place its material resources behind the Allies. Early in his statement he said: “The text of M. Reynaud’s statement has not been received, but everything possible is being done to forward supplies to France.” Beyond this he made no comment. The people of the United States were deeply moved by M. Reynaud’s final appeal for help. BILL AGREED TO A conference of Senate and House committees unanimously agreed to a Bill, in the first place granting the President authority to trade-in surplus military equipment, thus making it available to the Allies; secondly, removing the limit to the authorised number of army warplanes and pilots; thirdly, authorising the President to piace an embargo on shipments of war supplies and machine tools ‘from the United States; fourthly, giving the President 66,000,000 dollars in appropriations and the same amount in contract authorisations to procure strategic materials and train civilian personnel. The conference report will be returned to both Chambers, and its acceptance is considered certain. WESTERN HEMISPHERE NO ASPIRATIONS BY HITLER PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT’S COMMENT [U.P.A. —By Electric Telegraph—Copyright] (Received 15th June, 9 a.m.) WASHINGTON, 14th June. President Roosevelt cited a record of Germany’s broken pledges to other nations as discounting reports quoting Hitler as saying he has no aspirations in the western hemisphere. Such reports are contained in an interview by an American journalist von Wiegand with Hitler at 12.35 p.m. President Roosevelt permitted the direct quotation of his reply to the question concerning Hitler’s statement: “That brings up recollections,” he said. “That should be sufficient coment,” and he added it could be expanded upon indefinitely with references to specific dates and nations. DECORATIONS CONFERRED RETREAT FROM DUNKIRK KING INSPECTS TROOPS [British Official Wireless] (Received 15th June, 9 38 a.m.) RUGBY, 14th June. The King inspected a complete army division stationed in the Southern Command. His Majesty at several points conferred decorations on officers for distinguished conduct during the retreat to Dunkirk. The Colonel who commanded a small force which held an important part of the line and covered the retreat of thousands of men was decorated in a meadow in front of his battalion. The ceremony was watched only by scattered groups of villagers and school children who had been allowed ten minutes’ break from their lessons. The King wherever he went was deeply impressed by *the excellent health and spirit of the troops after their ordeal in Flanders. TURCO-GERMAN AGREEMENT OF LIMITED SCOPE ‘SAID TO HAVE NO POLITICAL CHARACTER [U.P.A. —By Electric Telegraph—Copyright] LONDON, 14th June. The Turco-Gcrman commercial agreement, which has been in process of negotiation for two months, is stated to have no political character. It carries no specific time limit and it is understood that it is likely to be a barter agreement, very limited in scope. It provides for the exchange of Turkish produce, particularly tobacco, for German machinery, spare parts and medical products, unobtainable in present circumstances from other countries. SOUTH AFRICAN AIR FORCE rßritish Official Wireless] RUGBY, 13th June. In a message to the South African Prime Minister, General Smuts, the Dominions secretary, Lord Caldicote, says: “The news that units of the South African Air Force which so recently flew to Kenya have already been •in action has stirred us all. May I say how greatly we here are heartened by the South Africans fighting side by side with us again against the common enemy in Africa, and by this symbol of the Union’s determination to

stand with us and the other parts of the Commonwealth in the cause of freedom.”